Star Wars actor was hospitalized with ‘intense’ illness while shooting one of the franchise’s most successful films

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Riz Ahmed has revealed he was hospitalized while filming Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

During Thursday’s episode of Penn Badgley’s Podcrushed podcast, the 42-year-old British actor openly revealed a surprising truth.

Riz experienced a long hospitalization due to a severe and prolonged health issue, which motivated him to act in the movie Sound of Metal, released in 2019.

At about the same period when I was involved in Sound of Metal, I personally faced an extremely challenging health situation. This involved dealing with grief and accepting it simultaneously.

During the filming of Star Wars, the actor, who played the Fingernails character, found himself in a difficult situation. Essentially, his body collapsed from exhaustion and he needed medical attention for a short while. He then had to put in an immense effort to regain his strength.

The process was akin to starting anew from the ground-up. It was incredibly nerve-wracking, intense, and lasted longer than anticipated.

As he noticed he wasn’t ‘getting better quickly,’ the actor’s perspective shifted.

For a short while, he found himself questioning, “When will normalcy return to my life?” However, the future seemed uncertain. He further expressed that he experienced a profound mix of sorrow, fear, terror, but also an immense sense of relief, appreciation, and acceptance.

As a devout admirer, I’d put it this way: “In moments when life knocks me down, I find myself poised on the brink of prayer – half-knelt, half-supplicant, yearning for the solace and wisdom only the divine can bestow.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’ve come to learn that experiencing loss can sometimes be a humbling reminder of the many blessings we often take for granted. When something is taken from us, it becomes strikingly clear how much we have in our lives – not just materially, but also on a physical and health level.

In those moments, I’ve found myself reflecting on the fleeting nature of control. We like to believe that we have mastery over our own bodies and destinies, but the truth is, we don’t. We can’t predict or dictate every aspect of our lives. It’s a humbling lesson in the fragility of life and an opportunity to appreciate the gifts we’ve been given.

He also expressed feeling a ‘trippy clarity’ that made him realize ‘everything you have is a gift.’

In an odd twist, nowhere else did I feel more thankful, more serene, or more satisfied than when it seemed like I was on the verge of losing everything.” He cast a reflective gaze behind him instead.

After experiencing a health issue, Riz found himself resonating profoundly with the script of the movie “Sound of Metal,” which centers around a drummer facing hearing loss.

Reading through the script, it struck me that I recognized the tale, one I felt compelled to share.

The star underscored, “‘It’s crucial for me to share this tale, to find clarity within it.’ In my opinion, that’s one of the most profound benefits we as narrators experience: the narrative that resonates with us surfaces precisely when we need it.

In the year 2021, Riz Ahmed achieved a significant milestone by being the initial Muslim actor to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Lead Actor, recognition he earned for his performance in Sound of Metal.

In simple terms, his portrayal as Ruben Stone, a former rock-and-roll drummer struggling with alcoholism who experiences a downward spiral after losing his hearing, received wide acclaim.

In a tweet, the well-known figure from Hollywood expressed: “What an honor! Nominated by my fellow actors for outstanding performances alongside such inspirational ones. I’m thankful to the Academy for their backing and motivation.

In 2017, he was the first Muslim actor to secure a leading acting Emmy for his role in The Night Of.

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2025-08-30 16:48